Anti-VEGF treatment for radiation-induced vasculopathy

Abstract

An anti-VEGF method for treating undesirable conditions resulting from radiation-induced vasculopathy. In a specific application, the method is applied to these undesirable conditions found in an eye.

1. A method for treating radiation-induced optic neuropathy (RON) comprising the steps of:
 identifying an eye or optic nerve in a patient having at least one undesirable condition of radiation-induced optic neuropathy resulting from radiation treatment applied to the eye or optic nerve; and 
 administering intraocullarly a therapeutic dose of a monoclonal antibody or a Fab-binding fragment thereof that binds to VEGF, wherein the therapeutic dose is administered between about 1.25 mg and about 6.25 mg and wherein the therapeutic dose administered stabilizes or regresses the at least one undesirable condition associated with radiation-induced optic neuropathy (RON). 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the monoclonal antibody or the Fab-binding fragment thereof is humanized. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the monoclonal antibody is bevacizumab. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2  wherein the fab-binding fragment is ranibizumab. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of identifying the eye or optic nerve, the at least one undesirable condition is selected from the group consisting of loss of visual acuity, visual disturbance, leakage, edema, hemorrhage, exudates, cotton wool spots, and microaneurysms. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the therapeutic dose is administered by more than one injection, each injection defining a partial dose. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein each partial dose is between about 0.62 mg and about 2.5 mg. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6  wherein the partial doses have an average of about 1.25 mg. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6  wherein each partial dose is approximately equal. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6  wherein each injection is separated by an interval of between 6 and 8 weeks. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  wherein the therapeutic dose is administered in one or more injections, and each injection administers 1.25 mg in 0.05 cc. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of identifying the eye or optic nerve, the identified eye or optic nerve received radiation in an amount between 41 and 148 Gy. 
     
     
       13. A method for treating radiation induced optic neuropathy (RON) of an eye having an intraocular melanoma comprising the steps of:
 examining the eye to determine that an intraocular melanoma is present; 
 performing radiation therapy on the eye; 
 examining the eye after radiation therapy to determine that at least one undesirable condition associated with radiation-induced optic neuropathy (RON) is present; and 
 administering to the eye intraocularly one or more injection of a monoclonal antibody or a Fab-binding fragment thereof that binds to VEGF for at least one symptom associated with radiation-induced optic neuropathy (RON) wherein each injection is 1.25 mg in 0.05 cc. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  wherein the monoclonal antibody or the Fab-binding fragment thereof is humanized. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein the monoclonal antibody is bevacizumab 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14  wherein the fab-binding fragment is ranibizumab. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13  wherein in the step of performing radiation therapy, the radiation therapy includes ophthalmic plaque brachytherapy.